Horizontal Room Partitioning Device

ABSTRACT

A horizontal room partitioning device for dividing a room horizontally includes a plurality of sectioning modules. Each sectioning module comprises a housing, configured to couple to a first wall, that has an open front. A panel is coupled at a first end to a back wall of the housing. The panel is extendable from and retractable into the housing through the open front. A first fastener is coupled to a second end of the panel. A second fastener that is complementary to the first fastener is configured to couple to a second wall opposite the housing. Each of a pair of guides extends between a respective opposing end of the housing and a respective opposing terminus of the second fastener. The sectioning modules are configured for planer installation within a room, such that an upper part of the room is reversibly separable from a lower part of the room.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE Field of the Disclosure

The disclosure relates to room partitioning devices and more particularly pertains to a new room partitioning device for dividing a room horizontally.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a plurality of sectioning modules. Each sectioning module comprises a housing, configured to couple to a first wall, that has an open front. A panel is coupled at a first end to a back wall of the housing. The panel is extendable from and retractable into the housing through the open front. A first fastener is coupled to a second end of the panel. A second fastener that is complementary to the first fastener is configured to couple to a second wall opposite the housing. Each of a pair of guides extends between a respective opposing end of the housing and a respective opposing terminus of the second fastener. The sectioning modules are configured for planer installation within a room, such that an upper part of the room is reversibly separable from a lower part of the room.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an in-use view of a horizontal room partitioning device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an isometric perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 7 thereof, a new room partitioning device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7, the horizontal room partitioning device 10 generally comprises a plurality of sectioning modules 12. Each sectioning module 12 comprises a housing 14 that has an open front 16. The housing 14 is configured to couple to a first wall. Preferably, the housing 14 is rectangularly box shaped. A first end 18 of a panel 20 is coupled to a back wall 22 of the housing 14. A first fastener 24 is coupled to a second end 26 of the panel 20.

A door 28 that is complementary to the open front 16 is hingedly coupled proximate to a top edge 30 of the housing 14, such that the door 28 is positioned to close over the open front 16. A connector 32 that is complementary to the first fastener 24 is coupled to an inside face 34 of the door 28. The connector 32 is positioned to couple to the first fastener 24 when the panel 20 is retracted into the housing 14, such that the door 28 is retained in a closed position.

The panel 20 is extendable from and retractable into the housing 14 through the open front 16. The panel 20 comprises a plurality of vertical connectors 36, a top layer 38 and a bottom layer 40. Each vertical connector 36 is coupled to and extends between the top layer 38 and the bottom layer 40, defining a plurality of sections 42. The plurality of sections 42 may be deformable, such that each section 42 is substantially rectangularly box shaped when viewed longitudinally with the panel 20 in an extended position. Each section 42 is deformable such that the vertical connectors 36 are adjacently positioned with the panel 20 in a retracted position.

Preferably, a plate 44 is coupled to the second end 26 of the panel 20 and the first fastener 24 is coupled to the plate 44.

The panel 20 also may comprise a plurality of boxes 64 that is substantially rigid and a plurality of hinges 66. The hinges 66 are coupled to respective adjacent boxes 64 alternately at respective upper joints 68 and respective lower joints 70. The hinges 66 allow the boxes 64 to be repositioned from an upright configuration to an extended configuration.

In another embodiment of the invention, the panel 20 comprises a plurality of planks 72, such that the panel 20 is rollable. The first end 18 of the panel 20 is coupled to a rotatable shaft 74 positioned in the housing 14.

A second fastener 46, complementary to the first fastener 24, is configured to couple to a second wall opposite the housing 14. Preferably, the second fastener 46 is coupled to a slat 48 that is configured to couple to the second wall opposite the housing 14.

Each sectioning module 12 includes a pair of guides 50. Each guide 50 extends between a respective opposing end 52 of the housing 14 and a respective opposing terminus 54 of the second fastener 46. The guides 50 are configured to couple to a vertical surface. Preferably, the guides 50 are elongated rectangularly box shaped when viewed longitudinally and have an open face 56. A respective opposite end 58 of the plate 44 is positionable in a respective open face 56 of the guide 50 and slidably movable along the guide 50 as the panel 20 is extended from or retracted into the housing 14. Alternatively, each of opposing endpoints of hinges 66 coupled at respective upper joints 68 are slidably positionable in respective open faces 56 of the guides 50.

Each of a plurality of couplers 60 is coupled to a respective guide 50, such that respective couplers 60 are configured to couple the respective guide 50 to a vertical surface. The couplers 60 also are configured to mutually couple adjacently placed guides 50. Preferably, the couplers 60 comprise penetrations 62 through the guides 50.

Also preferably, the connector 32, the first fastener 24 and the second fastener 46 are selected from the group of fasteners consisting of hook and loop fasteners.

The present invention anticipates various means of extending and retracting the panels 20, including manual means, gear and crank mechanisms, and motors.

In use, the plurality of sectioning modules 12 is configured for planer installation within a room, such that an upper part of the room is reversibly separable from a lower part of the room. The housing 14, the second fastener 46 and the pair of guides 50 of each sectioning module 12 are configured to couple to vertical surfaces. The panels 20 are positioned to extend along the guides 50 and the first fasteners 24 are positioned to reversibly couple to the second fasteners 46 to retain the panels 20 in extended positions. The panels 20 are positioned for retraction into the housings 14 when not in use.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements. 

1. A horizontal room partitioning device comprising: a plurality of sectioning modules, each said sectioning module comprising: a housing, said housing having an open front, said housing being configured to couple to a first wall, a panel, said panel having a first end positioned adjacent to a back wall of said housing, said panel being extendable from and retractable into said housing through said open front, a first fastener, said first fastener being coupled to a second end of said panel, a second fastener, said second fastener being complementary to said first fastener, said second fastener being configured for coupling to a second wall opposite said housing, a pair of guides, each said guide extending and being continuous between a respective opposing end of said housing and a respective opposing terminus of said second fastener, said guides being configured to couple to a vertical surface, said panel being extendable within said guides such that said panel is supported in a planar horizontal position; and wherein said plurality of sectioning modules is configured for planer installation within a room, such that an upper part of the room is reversibly separable from a lower part of the room, wherein said housing, said second fastener and said pair of guides of each said sectioning module are configured for coupling to vertical surfaces, such that said panels are positioned for extension along said guides and said first fasteners are positioned to reversibly couple to said second fasteners to retain said panels, and wherein said panels are positioned for retraction into said housings.
 2. The device of claim 1, further including said housing being rectangularly box shaped.
 3. The device of claim 1, further including said panel comprising: a plurality of vertical connectors, each said vertical connector being coupled to and extending between a top layer and a bottom layer defining a plurality of sections; said plurality of sections being deformable, such that each said section is substantially rectangularly box shaped when viewed longitudinally with said panel in an extended position; and wherein each said section is deformable such that said vertical connectors are adjacently positioned with said panel in a retracted position.
 4. The device of claim 1, further including said panel comprising: a plurality of boxes, said boxes being substantially rigid; a plurality of hinges, said hinges being coupled to respective adjacent boxes alternately at respective upper joints and respective lower joints; and wherein said hinges allow said boxes to be repositioned from an upright configuration to an extended configuration.
 5. The device of claim 1, further including said panel comprising a plurality of planks, such that said panel is rollable, said first end of said panel being coupled to a rotatable shaft positioned in said housing.
 6. The device of claim 1, further including a door, said door being complementary to said open front, said door being hingedly coupled proximate to a top edge of said housing, wherein said door is positioned to close over said open front.
 7. The device of claim 6, further including a connector, said connector being coupled to an inside face of said door, said connector being complementary to said first fastener, wherein said connector is positioned to couple to said first fastener when said panel is retracted into said housing, such that said door is retained in a closed position.
 8. The device of claim 1, further comprising: a plate, said plate being coupled to said second end of said panel; and said first fastener being coupled to said plate.
 9. The device of claim 1, further comprising: a slat, said slat being configured for coupling to a second wall opposite said housing; and said second fastener being coupled to said slat.
 10. The device of claim 8, further comprising: said guides being elongated rectangularly box shaped when viewed longitudinally; each said guide having an open face; and wherein a respective opposite end of said plate is positionable in a respective said open face of said guide and slidably movable along said guide as said panel is extended from or retracted into said housing.
 11. The device of claim 1, further including a plurality of couplers, each said coupler being coupled to a respective said guide, wherein respective said couplers are configured to couple said respective said guide to a vertical surface and wherein respective said couplers are configured to mutually couple adjacently placed respective said guides.
 12. The device of claim 11, further including said couplers comprising penetrations.
 13. The device of claim 7, further including said connector, said first fastener and said second fastener being selected from the group of fasteners consisting of hook and loop fasteners.
 14. A horizontal room partitioning device comprising: a plurality of sectioning modules, each said sectioning module comprising: a housing, said housing having an open front, said housing being configured to couple to a first wall, said housing being rectangularly box shaped, a panel, said panel having a first end positioned adjacent to a back wall of said housing, said panel being extendable from and retractable into said housing through said open front, said panel comprising a plurality of vertical connectors, each said vertical connector being coupled to and extending between a top layer and a bottom layer defining a plurality of sections, said plurality of sections being deformable, such that each said section is substantially rectangularly box shaped when viewed longitudinally with said panel in an extended position, and wherein each said section is deformable such that said vertical connectors are adjacently positioned with said panel in a retracted position, a first fastener, said first fastener being coupled to a second end of said panel, a door, said door being complementary to said open front, said door being hingedly coupled proximate to a top edge of said housing, wherein said door is positioned to close over said open front, a connector, said connector being coupled to an inside face of said door, said connector being complementary to said first fastener, wherein said connector is positioned to couple to said first fastener when said panel is retracted into said housing, such that said door is retained in a closed position, a plate, said plate being coupled to said second end of said panel, said first fastener being coupled to said plate, a second fastener, said second fastener being complementary to said first fastener, said second fastener being configured for coupling to a second wall opposite said housing, a slat, said slat being configured for coupling to a second wall opposite said housing, said second fastener being coupled to said slat, a pair of guides, each said guide extending and being continuous between a respective opposing end of said housing and a respective opposing terminus of said second fastener, said guides being configured to couple to a vertical surface, said panel being extendable within said guides such that said panel is supported in a planar horizontal position, said guides being elongated rectangularly box shaped when viewed longitudinally, each said guide having an open face, such that a respective opposite end of said plate is positionable in a respective said open face of said guide and slidably movable along said guide as said panel is extended from or retracted into said housing; a plurality of couplers, each said coupler being coupled to a respective said guide, wherein respective said couplers are configured to couple said respective said guide to a vertical surface and wherein respective said couplers are configured to mutually couple adjacently placed respective said guides, said couplers comprising penetrations; said connector, said first fastener and said second fastener being selected from the group of fasteners consisting of hook and loop fasteners; and wherein said plurality of sectioning modules is configured for planer installation within a room, such that an upper part of the room is reversibly separable from a lower part of the room, wherein said housing, said second fastener and said pair of guides of each said sectioning module are configured for coupling to vertical surfaces, such that said panels are positioned for extension along said guides and said first fasteners are positioned to reversibly couple to said second fasteners to retain said panels, and wherein said panels are positioned for retraction into said housings.
 15. (canceled)
 16. (canceled) 